Positioning tool for installing food waste disposers

Abstract

A tool to assist in the installation of a waste disposer beneath a kitchen sink includes a central, threaded shaft with a flared bottom end supporting a lift plate which is cocked on the shaft so that it may be inserted into the top of the waste disposer. The tool further contains a threaded stabilizing plate which mates with the threaded shaft, and which is inserted and retained in the top of the sink strainer, so that the shaft and lift plate extend through the sink strainer and into the waste disposer beneath. When the lift plate is straightened on the shaft, and the shaft rotated relative to the stabilizing plate, the waste disposer is drawn up until it engages the adapter on the sink strainer, to which it attaches.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A tool to assist in the installation of a waste disposer in a sink, the sink comprising a sink strainer affixed thereto and having a top and a bottom and an adapter which mates with the bottom of the sink strainer, the tool comprising: 
       a) a central threaded shaft;  
       b) a lift plate having a lift plate hole formed therewithin, the shaft passing through the lift plate hole, the lift plate having a first position where it may enter or exit the top of the waste disposer, and a second position where it is restrained within the waste disposer;  
       c) a stabilizing plate into which a through hole is formed, through which the threaded shaft passes, and further comprising a plurality of projections which mate with a top of the sink strainer; and  
       d) a stabilizing plate retainer disposed above the stabilizing plate and into which a threaded hole is formed which mates with the threads of the central shaft and which further comprises a plurality of retaining flanges formed thereupon, the retaining flanges disposed so as to capture the stabilizing plate within, so that when the lift plate is first brought into the first position, inserted through the sink strainer and into the top of the waste disposer, and then brought into the second position within the waste disposer, and the central shaft rotated, the waste disposer is drawn into contact with the adapter.  
     
     
       2. The tool of  claim 1 , wherein the hole in the center of the lift plate has tapered upper and lower edges. 
     
     
       3. The tool of  claim 2 , wherein the lift plate further comprises a circular ridge disposed on an upper surface which stabilizes the lift plate relative to the waste disposer. 
     
     
       4. The tool of  claim 3 , wherein the lift plate is in the shape of a circular plate truncated at either side of the center hole, forming a rectangle with two opposing curved sides.